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Anonymous Art Show transforms councillors, musicians, and dabblers into artists

The annual Arts Whistler fundraiser kicks off March 31 with buying night set for April 14
anonartshow
The Anonymous Art Show’s popular buying night is April 14, but the exhibit itself opens on Friday, March 31.

It appears Whistler has more budding artists in 2023 than ever before—at least judging by the number of pieces submitted to this year’s Anonymous Art Show.

Last year, Arts Whistler saw a record-breaking number of submissions with 333, but “this year it was 404 pieces from 247 artists,” says Mo Douglas, executive director of Arts Whistler.

In fact, that’s more art than they can feasibly hang on the walls at The Gallery at the Maury Young Arts Centre for the exhibit and its electric “buying night” event.

Their solution: each artist was allowed to submit three pieces, so those who maxed out their allotment will see their selections curated down to two.

However, “there are surprises coming about what will happen with the final wave of work,” Douglas says. “We’re dealing with great challenges to have.”

The list of locals who submitted art this year ranges from well-established artists to more than a few musicians and even a handful of Resort Municipality of Whistler councillors. (If you’re curious: artswhistler.com/anonymous-art-show-artists-2023.)

Part of the event’s charm is that the talent is kept under wraps until the pieces are purchased.

“It’s so fun,” Douglas says. “We know a lot of this art is coming from people who dabble, or may never have done anything, and it’s anonymous.”

The exhibit itself (which will feature decals of pieces once they’re purchased and removed) will run from Friday, March 31 until April 29. But there’s also a free, official event on April 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., where you can mingle with artists and peruse the work ahead of the buying night on Friday, April 14.

For the uninitiated: that event requires a $30 entrance ticket (with appetizers, live music, a silent auction and pop-up bar). If you want to buy art, you have to purchase a ticket to reserve your spot. The more expensive it is, the higher up your buying slot (it is a fundraiser for Arts Whistler, after all). The first, second and third spots—$500, $400, and $300, respectively—have already sold out. But there are still tickets for the four tiers below, which drop down to $50 (those are more than half sold out).

Most people at least spend some time perusing the images of the art online and selecting their top 10 or 12 so they know exactly what to choose when their turn comes.

If you’re unable to attend in-person, Arts Whistler will also offer a proxy to take your list.

“We were really trying to bring the colour back into it last year,” Douglas says of the first post-COVID-restrictions event. “There’s a giddy energy that comes from that.”

If you prefer a more laidback buying experience, after selections are done for the evening, the remaining art will also be on sale for $50 a piece (and will remain on sale throughout the rest of the show’s run).

“What a lot of people will say to me is, ‘I have to come back and focus beyond my initial choices,’” Douglas says. “It’s almost hard to comprehend them all.”

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an additional way to support Arts Whistler, some of the pieces from its new 40 More Years Silent Auction will be available for bidding at the event as well. (You can check out all the items up for grabs from now until April 14 here.)

“Coming out of COVID, it’s harder [to secure funding],” Douglas says. “Some sources have dried up … The fundraising [aspect of Anonymous Art Show] is a wonderful end result, but the process has so much entertainment value and community building.”